History of Film Mrs. Jolly Grand Valley High School

Early History of Cinema *Optical toys, shadow shows, 'magic lanterns,' and visual tricks have existed for thousands of years. Many inventors observed the visual phenomenon that a series of individual still pictures set into motion creating the illusion of movement - a concept termed persistence of vision. *First Machine that showed animated pictures was the “zoopraxiscope” in Moving drawings or photographs viewed through a slit Moving drawings or photographs viewed through a slit

The Birth of US Cinema Thomas Edison & William Dickson Goal was to creating a device to record moving pictures. Goal was to creating a device to record moving pictures. Kinetiscope (1894) Kinetiscope (1894) floor-standing, box-like viewing device. Basically a bulky, coin-operated, movie "peep show" cabinet for a single customer

The Lumiere Brothers They created their own combo movie camera and projector They created their own combo movie camera and projector A more portable, hand-held and lightweight device that could be cranked by hand and could project movie images to several spectators. A more portable, hand-held and lightweight device that could be cranked by hand and could project movie images to several spectators. Was dubbed the Cinematographe and patented in February, The multi-purpose device (combining camera, printer and projecting capabilities in the same housing) was more profitable because more than a single spectator could watch the film on a large screen. Was dubbed the Cinematographe and patented in February, The multi-purpose device (combining camera, printer and projecting capabilities in the same housing) was more profitable because more than a single spectator could watch the film on a large screen. They used a film width of 35mm, and a speed of 16 frames per second - an industry norm until the talkies. They used a film width of 35mm, and a speed of 16 frames per second - an industry norm until the talkies.

First Permanent Movie Theatres Films were increasingly being shown as part of vaudeville shows, variety shows, and at fairgrounds or carnivals. Films were increasingly being shown as part of vaudeville shows, variety shows, and at fairgrounds or carnivals. Audiences would soon need larger theaters to watch screens with projected images from Vitascopes after the turn of the century, using stage and opera houses and music halls. Audiences would soon need larger theaters to watch screens with projected images from Vitascopes after the turn of the century, using stage and opera houses and music halls. The earliest 'movie theatres' were converted churches or halls, showing one-reelers (a minute reel of film - the projector's reel capacity at the time). The earliest 'movie theatres' were converted churches or halls, showing one-reelers (a minute reel of film - the projector's reel capacity at the time).

In 1897, the first real cinema building was built in Paris, solely for the purpose of showing films. The same did not occur until 1902 in downtown Los Angeles where Thomas L. Talley's storefront, 200-seat Electric Theater became the first permanent US theater to exclusively exhibit movies In 1897, the first real cinema building was built in Paris, solely for the purpose of showing films. The same did not occur until 1902 in downtown Los Angeles where Thomas L. Talley's storefront, 200-seat Electric Theater became the first permanent US theater to exclusively exhibit movies Nickelodeons Nickelodeons -Cost a nickel -Usually accompanied with organ music. -Initially individual viewing machine.

The Silent Era Georges Melies’ A Trip to the Moon, 1902 Georges Melies’ A Trip to the Moon, 1902 Pioneered editing, special effects, and story telling Pioneered editing, special effects, and story telling Edwin S. Potter’s The Great Train Robbery, 1903 Edwin S. Potter’s The Great Train Robbery, st western 1 st western Had a story, action, and editing Had a story, action, and editing

Standard length of films was about one reel or minutes Standard length of films was about one reel or minutes Feature films started in Australia Feature films started in Australia D.W. Griffith picked up on it D.W. Griffith picked up on it Made Birth of a Nation in 1915 Made Birth of a Nation in 1915 Most popular film of the 1910s Most popular film of the 1910s Extremely racist Extremely racist Led to the rebirth of the KKK Led to the rebirth of the KKK 1911, 1 st animated film released 1911, 1 st animated film released Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo in Slumberland Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo in Slumberland

New York (Queens) led early film making New York (Queens) led early film making By the 1920s, Hollywood emerged as the world’s film leader By the 1920s, Hollywood emerged as the world’s film leader Almost 800 films a year Almost 800 films a year Great climate and room to work Great climate and room to work Era dominated by Tom Mix, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Douglas Fairbanks, and Clara Bow Era dominated by Tom Mix, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Douglas Fairbanks, and Clara Bow

Talking Films Al Jolson’s The Jazz Singer was the 1 st film with sound, 1927 Al Jolson’s The Jazz Singer was the 1 st film with sound, 1927 Used the Vitaphone system Used the Vitaphone system By 1929, almost all films were “talkies” By 1929, almost all films were “talkies” Many silent film stars and directors couldn’t adapt Many silent film stars and directors couldn’t adapt Started the Golden Age of Hollywood Started the Golden Age of Hollywood Lasted until the 1950s Lasted until the 1950s

Golden Era of Hollywood 1929, the 1 st Academy Awards are given out 1929, the 1 st Academy Awards are given out The Oscars The Oscars 1929, the 1 st full-length all color films are released 1929, the 1 st full-length all color films are released Movies thrived during the Great Depression Movies thrived during the Great Depression Offered Realism or Escapism Offered Realism or Escapism

King Kong, 1933 King Kong, 1933 It Happened One Night, 1934 It Happened One Night, 1934 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 1937 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 1937 Gone With the Wind, 1939 Gone With the Wind, 1939 The Wizard of Oz, 1939 The Wizard of Oz, 1939 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, 1939 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, 1939 Wuthering Heights, 1939 Wuthering Heights, 1939 Stagecoach, 1939 Stagecoach, 1939 Citizen Kane, 1941 Citizen Kane, 1941 Casablanca, 1942 Casablanca, 1942 HUAC investigates Hollywood for communist activities HUAC investigates Hollywood for communist activities 19 are blackballed 19 are blackballed TV emerges in the 1950s as studios are broken up for being monopolies TV emerges in the 1950s as studios are broken up for being monopolies Ends the Golden Era Ends the Golden Era

The Production Code Production Code was enforced on films from 1930 until 1967 Production Code was enforced on films from 1930 until 1967 Strict guidelines film makers followed Strict guidelines film makers followed The Motion Pictures Producers and Distributors Association (MPPDA) The Motion Pictures Producers and Distributors Association (MPPDA) Now called the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Now called the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), The Production Code enumerated three "General Principles": The Production Code enumerated three "General Principles": 1. No picture shall be produced that will lower the moral standards of those who see it. Hence the sympathy of the audience should never be thrown to the side of crime, wrongdoing, evil or sin. 1. No picture shall be produced that will lower the moral standards of those who see it. Hence the sympathy of the audience should never be thrown to the side of crime, wrongdoing, evil or sin. 2. Correct standards of life, subject only to the requirements of drama and entertainment, shall be presented. 2. Correct standards of life, subject only to the requirements of drama and entertainment, shall be presented. 3. Law, natural or human, shall not be ridiculed, nor shall sympathy be created for its violation. 3. Law, natural or human, shall not be ridiculed, nor shall sympathy be created for its violation.

The 1950’s in Film Decline in popularity led to innovations to lure audiences back Decline in popularity led to innovations to lure audiences back More color, wide angle shots, 3D films, sex appeal, and epic films More color, wide angle shots, 3D films, sex appeal, and epic films The Ten Commandments, 1956 The Ten Commandments, 1956 Ben-Hur, 1959 Ben-Hur, 1959 Spartacus, 1960 Spartacus, 1960 Giant, 1956 Giant, 1956

The 1960’s in Film Hollywood declines more Hollywood declines more More films made on location More films made on location Still family oriented early in the decade Still family oriented early in the decade Innovators led to a rekindling of film Innovators led to a rekindling of film Dr. Strangelove, 1964 Dr. Strangelove, 1964 The Graduate, 1967 The Graduate, : A Space Odyssey, : A Space Odyssey, 1968 Midnight Cowboy, 1968 Midnight Cowboy, 1968 Easy Rider, 1969 Easy Rider, 1969 Led to a New Hollywood Led to a New Hollywood MPAA rating system debuted in 1968 MPAA rating system debuted in 1968 Ended the reign of the film production code Ended the reign of the film production code

The 1970s and the New Hollywood A New Group of filmmakers emerged A New Group of filmmakers emerged Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Brian de Palma Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Brian de Palma The Godfather, 1972 The Godfather, 1972 The Exorcist, 1973 The Exorcist, 1973 Jaws, 1975 Jaws, 1975 Star Wars, 1977 Star Wars, 1977 Animal House, 1978 Animal House, 1978 Close Encounters, 1977 Close Encounters, 1977 Jaws and Star Wars led to blockbuster films Jaws and Star Wars led to blockbuster films

Mid 70’s and beyond Blockbusters continue to be made Blockbusters continue to be made -ET, Rocky, Raiders of the Lost Art, 1981 The industry has adapted to home viewing: VCR and DVD The industry has adapted to home viewing: VCR and DVD Digital effects and CGI emerge Digital effects and CGI emerge More sequels, remakes, and adaptations recently More sequels, remakes, and adaptations recently -Of Mice and Men, Rambo: First Blood movies, 1980s -Ocean’s Eleven, 2001 Independent films are gaining larger audiences Independent films are gaining larger audiences -The Pianist, Good Will Hunting, Pulp Fiction, 1994